Sony Xperia PRO: The Ultimate Smartphone for Creators

Sony Xperia PRO (2021): Professional 21:9 Flagship for Creators & Live Streamers

The Sony Xperia PRO (model numbers: SO-51A, XQ-AT51, XQ-AT52) is a premium professional Android smartphone unveiled in January 2021 (launched Jan 27 in Japan/US; Jun 13–14 in UK/EU). Positioned as a tool for content creators, videographers, and live streamers, it integrates a micro-HDMI input for external camera monitoring/streaming, mmWave 5G, and a 6.5-inch 4K HDR 21:9 CinemaWide OLED display—sharing core hardware with the Xperia 1 II but optimized for professional workflows.

Core Identifiers

Item	Details
Brand & Model	Sony Xperia PRO (SO-51A/XQ-AT51/XQ-AT52)
Launch Timeline	Announced: Jan 2021; Released: Jan 27 (JP/US), Jun 13 (UK), Jun 14 (DE/Nordics)
Positioning	Professional flagship (creator-focused)
Launch Price	~$1,998 USD / €1,999 EUR
Color Options	Black (only)
Successor	Sony Xperia PRO-I (2021)

Key Technical Specifications

Hardware & Performance

Category	Details
Operating System	Android 10 (launch); officially upgradable to Android 12
Chipset	Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 5G (7nm+); X55 5G modem
CPU	Octa-core (1×2.84GHz Cortex-A77 + 3×2.42GHz Cortex-A77 + 4×1.80GHz Cortex-A55)
GPU	Adreno 650
Memory & Storage	12GB LPDDR5 RAM; 512GB UFS 3.1 storage; no microSD expansion
Display	6.5-inch 21:9 CinemaWide OLED; 3840×1644 (4K HDR); 643 ppi; HDR 10, BT.2020, 10-bit color; X1 for mobile; Corning Gorilla Glass 6
Design & Build	Aluminum frame + Gorilla Glass 6 front/back; Dimensions: 166×72×7.9mm; Weight: 181g; IP65/IP68 dust/water resistance

Camera System (Motion Eye)

Component	Details
Rear Cameras	– 12MP main (24mm, f/1.7, 1/1.7″ Exmor RS, PDAF, OIS) – 12MP ultra-wide (16mm, f/2.2, 1/2.55″ Exmor RS, 124° FOV) – 12MP telephoto (70mm, f/2.4, 1/3.4″ Exmor RS, 3x optical zoom, OIS) Features: Eye AF (human/animal), 20fps burst, 4K@30fps video, 1080p@960fps slow-motion
Front Camera	8MP (24mm, f/2.0, 1/4″ Exmor R, 1080p@30fps video, EIS)

Professional Connectivity & Battery

Category	Details
Battery	4000mAh non-removable Li-Po; USB PD 2.0 fast charging (21W); no wireless charging
Network	5G (mmWave + sub-6GHz), 4G LTE Cat.20, 3G HSPA+, 2G GSM; Hybrid Dual-SIM (dual-standby)
Professional I/O	Micro-HDMI (Type D) input (4K@60fps YCbCr 4:2:2 10-bit/RGB 8-bit); USB-C 3.1 (DP Alt Mode 4K@60fps); 3.5mm headphone jack
Connectivity	Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), Bluetooth 5.1 (LDAC/aptX HD), NFC, GPS/GLONASS/Beidou/Galileo
Sensors	Side-mounted fingerprint (power button), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compass, RGBC-IR

Core Professional Features

Micro-HDMI Input: Acts as a 4K@60fps field monitor for Sony Alpha/other cameras via the External Monitor app; supports live streaming (YouTube) directly from external cameras.
mmWave 5G for Live Streaming: Ultra-fast mmWave 5G enables low-latency 4K live streaming—critical for event videographers and journalists.
4K 21:9 CinemaWide Display: 10-bit color, HDR 10, and BT.2020 color space deliver accurate on-set previews and content creation.
Hi-Res Audio: LDAC, aptX HD, and DSEE Ultimate support high-fidelity audio monitoring and playback.
Alpha Camera Integration: Tight integration with Sony Alpha cameras for remote control, file transfer, and workflow syncing.

Market Reception & Legacy

Legacy: The Xperia PRO established Sony’s “professional flagship” niche, spawning the Xperia PRO-I (with a 1″ sensor) and solidifying Sony’s focus on creator-centric mobile tools. It remains a benchmark for smartphones as professional camera accessories.

Strengths: Critics praised the micro-HDMI input (a rare pro feature), 4K 21:9 display, premium build, and 5G streaming capabilities. The 3.5mm jack and IP68 rating were also well-received.

Criticisms: The $2k price tag was prohibitive for consumers; no microSD expansion; limited OS updates (Android 10 → 12); battery life was average for heavy pro use.